[Play Report] No Survival End. The Shocking Game "Despair at 30 Degrees Below Zero" Packed with Intense Warnings — Depicting the "Beyond Death" in an Extreme Freezer
Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/908/G090878/20251028007/
Writer: Michiko Obe | 2025/11/03 04:00 (UTC)
“Minus 30 Degrees of Despair” is a visual novel that portrays the madness and tenderness of humanity under extreme conditions. Do not play unless you enjoy seeing people struggle to survive.
Additionally, please refrain from playing if any of the following elements are difficult for you:
Enclosed spaces, complex parent-child relationships, pet (arthropod) death, mild horror, smoking, insults, injuries, blood, violence, murder, suicide
An attention-grabbing warning like this appears before “Minus 30 Degrees of Despair”, a completely free visual novel released by Mitsudomoe Studio (@mitsudomoe03) on November 3, 2025 (available on Steam / BOOTH / Plicy / NovelGame). As noted above, this is a highly selective work—but that’s precisely what gives it its sharp edge. Once it strikes your heart, it doesn’t let go easily. If you feel this game aligns with your personal taste (your “hekki”), then definitely experience it (※R-15 rated).
As with previous reviews, I’ll share my impressions and the overall tone of the work while avoiding spoilers—but if you’ve read the warning above and still felt drawn to this title, no further pre-information is needed. Play first, then come back to this article while carrying the afterglow.
No matter how hard they struggle, they will die—two people trapped in a freezer
This game follows former police officer Kuchinashi Dabi and new employee Jūnimura Yui, both working at Japan Rescue Pharmaceuticals Alcana Factory, who become trapped inside a cold storage room within the facility. The official description clearly states: “There are four endings—all of them result in death.” There is no hope.
As someone generally fond of happy endings, this setup was quite tough to stomach—but curiosity won out. I wanted to witness how people act when facing death in extreme conditions—how they fight to live, or whether they cling to hope until the very end.
Also personally, I love works that pack a punch with the creator’s distinct “hekki” (quirks). There’s no reason not to play—and frankly, I just really like the art style.
On the right is protagonist Kuchinashi Dabi; on the left is Jūnimura Yui. Both are adult men over 20, yet undeniably adorable. The game description even calls it a “novel game where two cute people await death together in a freezer.” Cute is justice.
A mismatched duo: 161 cm tall Kuchinashi and 183 cm tall Jūnimura
Tall, red-haired, crooked teeth, tearful eyes, speaks with “～っす” — absolutely recommendable. I mean, please let me recommend him.
After being urged by their boss, the two enter a heavy door. Behind it lies an impersonal room filled with massive hanging pieces of meat. There’s no instruction beyond “do whatever,” and once the fan is turned on, the temperature drops rapidly. Only then do they realize: this is a freezer. The heavy door, naturally, won’t open.
Kuchinashi says, “This kind of thing happens often at this company?”…?
Thus begins their struggle to survive—enduring freezing cold in an attempt to escape the freezer.
Jūnimura talks about how to call for help after being locked in. But if their boss intentionally trapped them, the chances of someone from the factory coming to rescue are slim.
The room contains: a door, display screen, large piece of meat, surveillance camera, fan, and walkie-talkie. Areas that can be investigated are marked with red squares; as shown in the top-right corner, you may investigate only three times. What you choose to examine becomes crucial.
Scene where Jūnimura is investigated. Note: you can examine the same target multiple times.
Image Gallery No.007 thumbnail / [Play Report] No survival ending. Shocking game with extreme warnings: “Minus 30 Degrees of Despair” – the “afterlife” depicted in an extreme freezer Image Gallery No.008 thumbnail / [Play Report] No survival ending. Shocking game with extreme warnings: “Minus 30 Degrees of Despair” – the “afterlife” depicted in an extreme freezer
Depending on your investigation choices and dialogue options, special conversations or events may trigger.
Image Gallery No.009 thumbnail / [Play Report] No survival ending. Shocking game with extreme warnings: “Minus 30 Degrees of Despair” – the “afterlife” depicted in an extreme freezer Image Gallery No.010 thumbnail / [Play Report] No survival ending. Shocking game with extreme warnings: “Minus 30 Degrees of Despair” – the “afterlife” depicted in an extreme freezer
They exchange casual banter, huddle together for warmth. Thus, the two spend their final moments in a freezing room that grows colder by the second.
An anomaly unfolds inside the minus-30-degree sealed room. What exactly happened to Kuchinashi, who is now panicking?
Additionally, this work features a world inspired by the SCP Foundation (though no specific SCP objects or groups appear), creating an eerie sense of dread—modern Japan as a backdrop that feels just slightly off-kilter.
Alcana? Sacrificing humans? Jūnimura doesn’t know—but Kuchinashi seems to have quite a bit of knowledge…
Mysterious rules enforced on Alcana Factory employees
The interactions between the two, subtle humor sprinkled throughout, heavy pasts hinted at, complex human relationships, and how people behave when cornered in an enclosed space—these elements roll through the story with a smooth rhythm. To put it bluntly: this is an incredibly pleasurable experience to play.
Inside the freezing room, what decision will Kuchinashi (the player) make?
Yet, under minus-30-degree conditions, what they inevitably reach is always death.
Why did the boss lock them in the freezer? Why were they destined to die? What truth emerges from each of their four endings?
Please experience all endings and find out for yourself.
Incidentally, before release, a special campaign called “Dabi’s Death Cause Derby” was held—sharp, clever concept. Participants received results and exclusive illustrations via email after the game launched (currently closed).
Although the event has ended, try predicting it yourself before playing!
This game takes about 20 minutes for one playthrough, and completing all routes doesn’t take much time at all.
But once you actually play it, the satisfaction and lingering aftertaste are so strong—you’d never guess this is a free indie game, let alone made by an individual creator.
Full-length livestreaming is permitted. If you feel bearing the ending alone would be too painful, try playing with someone else instead. Just make sure to carefully read the streaming guidelines and give it a shot.
Regarding Livestreams:
- Full playthrough allowed.
- You must include all of the following in your video description or pinned comment: “freeware,” “game title,” “Mitsudomoe Studio,” and a link to the author’s X (Twitter) account.
- No need to avoid spoilers, but no paid member-only content is allowed.
Additionally, videos with no original elements—such as silent gameplay—are prohibited.
Furthermore, insults toward the game itself are forbidden—but criticizing character personalities or actions, or playful harassment toward characters, is permitted.
Also worth noting: this work is set three years before the previous title, “Replace Your Crush’s Most Important Person — No One Will Ever Love You.” (R-15). That earlier game was a dating sim (girlfriend/BG) where you could choose the protagonist’s gender—yet it uniquely featured no mutual love ending. The structure of this new work allows enjoyment even after playing the previous one, so if you’re intrigued, definitely experience both.
BOOTH page for “Mitsudomoe Studio”
NovelGame page for “Mitsudomoe Studio”
Game title: Minus 30 Degrees of Despair
Developer: Mitsudomoe Studio https://x.com/mitsudomoe03
Music: Kan’an https://x.com/canaan144p, Kanteac https://x.com/kanteac_xxx
Release date: November 3, 2025 (around 12 PM)
Platforms: Steam, BOOTH, PLiCy (mobile compatible); upcoming on NovelGame
Steam Store Page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3736150/30/
• Completely free
• Mobile compatible
• Full livestreaming allowed
Playtime: ~20 minutes per run, ~1 hour for all routes